What is Student Senate?

​Change Agents. Difference Makers. Helping Hands. These phrases exemplify what MUSG's Senate is all about. MUSG represents the students, and the Senate is the means to act on what students desire. Ever since the founding of MUSG, the Senate has enacted meaningful change on Marquette's campus. Whether it be through resolutions to directly help the campus or recommendations to the administration, Senate strives every day to deliver on issues that matter to the students.

Duties and Responsibilities of Academic Senators

• Attend weekly Senate meetings held on Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
• As an Academic Senator attend regular College Council meetings (when in place)
• Attend all additional meetings scheduled by Legislative Vice President.
• Attend Student Organization Funding (SOF) training in the fall and spring (Dates TBD).
• Office hours: Hold one office hour per week in the MUSG office (if open), and hold additional hour(s) as is necessary to best reach constituents.
• Actively seek out and represent the opinion of their constituency.
• Participate in at least one of the following standing committees of the Senate: Academics, Business and Administration, Student Life, or Student Organizations.
• Attend the Day of Leadership and Service on 4/12/25.
• Attend the all-Senate training in fall.
• Attend the Fall MUSG retreat (TBD--typically the 4th weekend of fall semester).
• Attend the Winter MUSG retreat in January. (Date TBD.)

Running for an Academic Senate Seat

In order to be placed on the ballot, candidates need to obtain the required number of signatures (see below). Only signatures of eligible voters as determined by checking people in on your candidate event form via Marquee will be counted as valid on the ballot nomination form.

Signatures should be obtained from full-time students in your representative area (e.g. If running for College of Arts and Sciences Senator, signatures on your nomination form must be from full-time undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. OR if running for Abbotsford Hall Senator, signatures are collected from Abbotsford residents who are full-time undergraduate students).

Registration Requirements

1. Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA​.
2. Completion of Candidate Registration Form, which includes your statement of objectives, and completion of the Campaign Materials and Expenditures Form.
3. Candidate Nomination Form, which consists of getting signatures from full-time undergraduate students in your college as noted above. This form will be created for you once your application is approved. Signatures are collected via Marquee by having students swipe or check in to this "event."
4. If you plan to have a campaign team, completion of the Official Campaign Workers Form.
5. Reading the Official Election Rules

Required Forms

• Candidate Registration Form
• Official Campaign Workers Form
• Campaign Materials and Expenditures Form

Campaign Nomination Form, which consists of getting signatures from full-time undergraduate students in the constituent area as noted in the table above.

NOTE: this is a digital signature form via Marquee and will be created once your application is approved. Signatures come in the form of students swiping or checking in to this "event."

Important Dates

Application deadlines will be provided when the spring 2025 election date is set.

Additional Procedures

​Before campaigning, you must have completed the nomination signatures process (digital form via Marquee) and register any campaign workers if you have them. All campaign materials must also be approved by the MUSG Election Committee before they are distributed. You are also expected to adhere to the rules as outlined in the Official Election Rules.

• Senator candidates may not spend more than $100 on your campaign.
• If you receive a discounted price on campaign materials, you must submit the full (retail) price on your Expenditures Form.
You may not use the student org resources in MUSG's office resources to produce your campaign material.
• All receipts must be turned in to MUSG officials before the elections, attached to the Expenditures Form.
• You will NOT be reimbursed (by MUSG or Marquette University) for the money you spend on your campaign.
• The Elections Committee will work to approve campaign material in one business day.
• The Elections Committee must have a copy of all campaign materials.
• The Elections Committee will enforce all election rules; infractions may result in penalties. Candidates are responsible for knowing and understanding all of the rules. Please read the Election Rules thoroughly and completely.
• If you have a question, ask a committee member or the elections coordinator before taking action. All questions are welcomed and, in fact, encouraged.